Dateline has covered several crimes that have shocked America. Among these cases, the killing of Cari Farver stands out as particularly tragic.
The single mother disappeared in November around 2012 after a casual date. What followed was a twisted tale of deception that spanned many years. Her family received several text messages from her after she went missing. These messages suggested she had simply walked away from her family.
However, the truth was far more sinister. The investigation revealed a well-constructed web of lies. Someone was pretending to be Cari Farver long after she was killed. Investigators had to sift through thousands of emails and texts to uncover what actually happened.
The story that came to the surface was one of jealousy, obsession, and cold-blooded death. This case demonstrated how technology could be used as a tool to conceal a brutal crime.
The mysterious disappearance, according to Dateline
Cari Farver disappeared without a clue in November 2012. She was casually dating a mechanic from Omaha called Dave Kroupa. Their relationship was not serious and had only started weeks earlier.
On the fateful day, she left his apartment and was never seen again. Her car disappeared with her. But soon the messages started flooding in. Her family and friends received messages that seemed to come from her. These messages claimed she wanted a new start somewhere else.
Initially, her loved ones believed these communications were genuine. They wondered if there was any point in doubting that Cari Farver was reaching out to them. The texts continued with escalating frequency over the following months.
The digital deception unravels
Dateline explored how investigators became suspicious of the constant messages. The texts continued for three years after her disappearance.
They were often harassing and cruel in nature. Several messages were directed at Dave Kroupa and his other partner, Shanna Golyar.
The texts accused them of several things and threatened violence. Investigators noticed something amiss about the pattern. The individual sending these texts seemed to know intimate information about Kroupa’s life.
They understood his schedule and his movements. This suggested someone close to him was behind the harassment. The investigation took a significant turn when experts analyzed the digital evidence. They found that all the messages supposedly from Cari Farver originated from phones connected to a single person.
Shanna Golyar's dark obsession
The research pointed directly at Shanna Golyar. She was dating Kroupa around the same time as Cari Farver. Jealousy seemed to be the motive behind everything.
Golyar had created an elaborate scheme to finish her romantic rival. She killed Cari Farver just after her disappearance. Then she took over her identity online. For years, she kept sending thousands of texts pretending to be Cari. She harassed herself to take away suspicion.
She even broke into her own house and car to make it look like Farver was stalking her. The lengths she went to were beyond comprehension. Golyar had several fake email accounts and profiles. She communicated with herself under separate identities to form a false narrative.
The crucial evidence according to Dateline
Dateline examined how detectives ultimately solved the case. A single photograph proved to be the key to solving the murder. Investigators found an image on one of Golyar’s phones. The picture displayed a woman’s body bound with zip ties. Her tattoos matched those of Cari Farver. Digital forensics revealed that Golyar had taken this picture.
She had deleted it, but experts were able to recover it from the phone. This was the breakthrough investigators needed. They also traced Farver’s car, which Golyar had been using. She had disguised it by changing the license plates. Blood evidence was discovered in the vehicle. DNA analysis confirmed it belonged to the missing lady.
Justice for Cari Farver
Dateline covered the trial that brought closure to the case. Prosecutors presented overwhelming digital proof against Shanna Golyar. The jury heard about thousands of fake texts. They saw the disturbing picture that proved the killing. In 2017, Golyar was convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence without any possibility of parole. The case highlighted how criminals use technology to conceal their actions.
Cari Farver’s body has never been found. But her family finally got to know what happened to her. The woman who killed her out of jealousy now faces justice. The case remains one of the most shocking examples of obsession turned deadly that Dateline has ever covered.
The murder of Cari Farver demonstrates how jealousy can drive someone to brutal acts and elaborate deception schemes.